postmodernism: globalisation

Question 1

What is globalisation

Answer 1

• the world is smaller and more accessible than it was in 1990s due to societies spending on each other

Question 2

Postmodernists: transformed modern societies

Answer 2

• ALBROW: globalisation is a process by which people have incorporated into a single society
• WATERS: it’s a social process due to the constraints of geography on economic/political etc arrangements reduced

Question 3

MARTELL: micro level

Answer 3

• geographical distance and time zones are no longer important
• digital technology erased distance and substituted virtual space for physical space

Question 4

Micro level: global digital interconnectedness

Answer 4

• this means that people can occupy the same online space at the same time

Question 5

Macro level/ societal level

Answer 5

• this means that goods, money, people, services etc are crossing national boarders
• societies were once distant but now they’re increasingly intertwined and inter independent

Question 6

macro and micro are ingerowmven

Answer 6

• local lives of people are increasingly shaped by events, decisions and actions that take place at a distance

Question 7

BAUDRILLARD: postmodern societies are hyper real societies

Answer 7

• since they have been dominated by simulacra (signs of reality) in films, TV etc
• simulacra have became more real than reality itself

Question 8

BAUDRILLARD: media

Answer 8

• media is responsible for the inability of people in the postmodern world to distinguish image and reality

Question 9

causes or globalisation: TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE

Answer 9

• advances in digital technology

Question 10

causes or globalisation: economic change

Answer 10

• control of worlds digital communications is concentrated with transnational corporations (TNCs)
• 24hr financial markets
• intentional division of labour emerged in production of fashion, music, films etc

Question 11

causes or globalisation: political change

Answer 11

• many TNCs have greater economic power than governments and can impose their plans on states and politics

Question 12

causes or globalisation: global movement of people

Answer 12

• people brought by cheap air travel and mass tourism and migration increased diversity
• globalisations created new global hybrid styles e.g. fashion, food
• increased choices in availability of media, religions, politics etc

Question 13

Postmodernists see globalisation as a positive phenomenon

Answer 13

• since it created a new class of global consumers with a greater range of choices they can contradict a hybridised global identity

Question 14

Marxism and postmodernist: Marxists argue that capitalism engaged in global practices e.g. colonialism

Answer 14

• so Marxists say globalisation is not a new phenomenon

- we’re just merely experience a further stage in evolution of capitalism

Question 15

HARVEY: flexible accumulation

Answer 15

• this is when capitalists sought new sources of profit through creation of new areas of commerce

Question 16

Flexible accumulation involves:

Answer 16

• using global markets to encourage consumption of brands
• using global production to make rapid switches from one product to another
• global media persuade people to reinvent themselves and identities by buying new products and services